Measured-service telephone system



1,488,784 c. L. GOODRUM MEASURED SERVICE TELEPHONE SYSTEM Filed April 25. 1920 //7 venfar Char/es L. Goad/form.

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Patented Apr. 1, 192a.

nurse srA'rns A REES 3L. GOO-DRUM, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNUR T0 WESTERN ELECERIC COM- Pit-NY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N, Y1, A CORPORATION OF NEW 29% MEASURED-SERVICE TELEEEONE SYSTEL Application filed. April 23, 1920. Eerie 160.3%,980.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. Goonnnm, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Measured- Servi'ce Telephone Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to telephone sys terns and more particularly to coin collecting and metering systems for automatic tele phone exchanges. 7

An object of this invention is to provide improved and simplified means for collecting and recording the collection of toll for an initial period of conversation and for periodically and repeatedly thereafter collooting and recording the collection of toll for additional periods of conversation.

In accordance with the object of this invention a single mechanism which is started in operation when the called subscriber responds, functions to operate a coin collector to collect coins as necessary toll for an initial conversation, to operate a meter, each time a coin is collected, or a certain number of times for an initial conversation, and to automatically and repeatedly thereafter operate the coin collector and the meter for additional periods of conversation.

More specifically, a switch which is set in motion when the called subscriber responds, is released at the end of the time limit of the first charge to a predetermined point representing a fractional part of the initial conversation. lPhe switch then Incas urcs off the time representing the fractional part of a conversation for which a certain toll is changed when it is again released, this operation being continued until the called subscriber hangs up. For each trac tional part of the initial conversation. the register operates and a coin is collected by the switch.

in the parlance of telephony a call is the establishment of a connection between a calling and a called subscriber and the holding of a conversation over such connection for definite time interval, For such a call a lined charge is made which, of course, ries in different localities, generally in accordance with the distance between enchanges or the length oi? the trunk line employed. Such a call has herein been referred to as an initial period of conversation. If upon the completion of this call the sub scribers wish to prolong their conversation, they will be required to pay for such additional time as they consume, but since no new operation of the apparatus is necessary, a charge at a difierent rate is made. This has herein been referred to as the additional periods of conversation. By way of exam a suitable connection to be established. The

charge for a call over this connection may be fifteen cents for a period of three min utes. If at the end of three minutes the conversation has not been concluded then additional charges for additional periods of con versation will be made at the rate of five cents for each additional five minute period. Such charges of course, may be varieidt to suit the con itions in any given loca 1 1 of the drawing represents diagrammaticall the circuits and apparatus embodied in t is invention. A represents a subscribers station having a coin collectin device of the type shown diagrammatical y in Fig. 2 A message register 4%, associated with the subscribers station A operates each time a coin is deposited in the coin box, and thus registers the charge for the initial conversation and each fractional part thereor.

A timing switch shown at may be of any well-known type of step-by-step or rotary switch modified as hereafter do scribed. This switch includes the stepping 45, which, under the control of the interrupters 50, 79 and 71, moves wipers 65,

64, and 62 over their associated contacts.

Fixed to a shaft 49 to which the wipers 65.,

ea, =30 and 62 are secured is an arm 51 which I is not of the switches is well known in the art and a description of a system to which apfglicantsinvention may be applied maybe und in British Patent No. 16,47 9A of 1905 to Lattig and Goodrum.

Assumin now that the subscriber at substation A esires to establish a connection with the subscriber at station B, he will remove his receiver 1 from the switchhook 2, causing thereby switchhook 2 to engage contacts 3 and 4. During the upward travel of the switchhook 2, a projection 5 of the switchhook engages contact 6 in such a manner that contacts 8 and 9 will not be engaged thereby. Current may be supplied through the windings of the usual line relays (not shown), conductor 10, windings 81 and 80 of polarized'magnet 400, contact 4, switchhook 2, and line conductor 11. The direction of flow of current is such that polarized magnet 400 attracts its armature 401 toward winding 80 and an extension 12 of armature 401 isthereb moved into engagement with contact 13. lDue to the closure of this contact a trunk finder F is caused to hunt for an idle trunk in the well-known manner. A circuit for starting trunk finder F may be closed through line conductor 11, switchhook 2, contact 3, primary winding of induction coil 15, transmitter 16, contacts 12 and 13, and line conductor 10.

The subscriber at station A may now proceed to send out impulses for directively con trolling selector switch S and connector switch C in their selecting operation for building up a connection to the subscriber B. An impulse sender is diagrammatically shown at 20. Upon setting of impulse sender 20 and during the off-normal posltion of the same the normally closed contact 21 opens, thereby preventing the pamage ofimpulses through the windings of polarlzed magnet 400 during the impulse sending operation. I

As well known to those skilled in the art, when sending out a set of directive impulses, the upper limb of the connecting circuit (shown in heavy lines in the drawing) is grounded once and the lower limb of t e connecting circuit is grounded as many times as im ulses are sent. Due to the grounding o the upper or lower limb of.

the connecting circuit, current flows from battery through the upper or lower limb of the connecting circuit to ground at the substation. No battery connections for the impulse responsive relays are shown in .the drawin as systems operating under this princip e are generally well known. Durin the setting of the connector switch C, p0 arized relay 22 included in the upper imb of theconnecting circuit is not enerized as the current flowing therethrough proper polarity for energizing said relay.

For the purpose of illustration, let us assume that trunk finder F engaged with its wipers 23, 24, 25 and 39 terminals 26, 27, 28 and 40 respectively; that the wipers 30, 31, 32 and 36 of selector switch S are set on terminals 33, 34, 35 and 37 respectively; and the wipers 93 and 94 of connector switch C are set on the terminals 96 and 97 respectively. When the calling line is extended through to the selector S magnet 66 of switch T energizes and is held energized by a ground at the finder switch F. The

called subscribers station E is supplied with current from grounded battery, through the winding of relay 87, resistance 88, brush 94, terminal 97, through the called substation loop, terminal 96, brush 93 and resistance 89 to ground. When the calling subscribers station is extended through to the connector C and up until the time that the called subscriber answers, the station A of the calling subscriber is supplied with current from grounded battery, through the outer armature and back contacts of relay 87, resistances 42 and over both limbs of the connecting circuit. When the called subscriber removes the receiver from the switchhook, a circuit for relay 87 is completed and this relay, by attracting its armatures, reverses the direction of current normally flowing through the upper limb of the talking circuit by connecting ground through the inner armature and front contact of relay 87, resistance 48, to the upper limb, and grounded battery, through the outer armature and front contact of relay 87, resistance 47 to the lower limb of the connecting circuit. Due to this change produced in the direction of the current flowing in the upper limb of the connecting circuit, the winding 81 of the polarized magnet 400 attracts armature 401 and extension 12 of armature 401 s caused toengage contact 36. The windmgs of polarized magnet 400 are of sufiiciently hlgh resistance to prevent the energlzation of polarized relay 22. If the call- 1n coi n chute when initiating a call, the coin now falls into the deposit channel and is held by spring 411 and a finger 403 controlled by the armature 401 of polarized magnet 400. Contact 37 is now closed and subscriber has inserted a coin in the therefore the resistance of the circuit leadter is, said circuit extending from ground through contacts 56 of polarized relay 22, terminal 14, wiper 64, terminal 35, wi or 32, terminal 28, wiper 25 and winding 0 register it to grounded. battery. The magnet of register 44 is thus energized and causes in the well-known manner upon its deenergiz'ation, the making of a record which indicates that at station A one coin. has been inserted in the coin box. 22, by attracting its armature also closes a circuit from grounded battery through the winding of stepping magnet 45, which controls switch '1, hack contact and left-hand armature of magnet 99, wiper 60, terminal 61, contacts 55 of polarized relay 22 and interrupter 50' to ground. Due to the closure of the last traced circuit, stepping ma et receives impulses under the control oi interrupter and causes the step ing of wipers 65, 64:, 60, 62 and arm 51 ct switch T onto the second set of terminals of switch T. llhen wiper 65 engages terminal 68, the connecting circuit is short-circuited and therefore polarized magnet 400 is deenergized, which causes the inserted coin to be deposited in the coin box (not shown). litelay 22 is maintained energized by the shortcircuit across the line until the wiper 65 passes off terminal 68. Switch 'l continues its travel, current being supplied to step ping magnet 45 from grounded battery through the winding of stepping magnet 45, back contact and left-hand armature of magnet 99, wiper 60, terminal 69, interrupter 71, which is faster than interrupter 50 to ground. The wipers of switch T are stepped on to the third row of terminals of this switch in which position the above mentioned short-circuit is removed from the calling side of the connecting circuit and polarizec magnet 400 therefore again energizes and closes the contacts 12 and 36. [is the Contact hetween springs ill and 37 is not closed, originally de osited coin having been collected, polarized relay 22 remains deenergized provided a second coin has not inserted in. the slot and therefore no current is supplied through terminal 70 and wiper of switch T to the stepping magnet ilt. The tall-ting circuit of the calling suhscriher is opened at 4111. and therefore l ing subscriber is unalcle to converse "led subscriber until he deposits i; the calling subscriber may, never, hear the called subscriber.

as the calling subscriher deposits out coin, contacts all. and 37 are closed p ined relay 22 again energizes. ne circuit of the stepping magnet 45 is 1 again completed from grounded hatthrough the winding of stepping mageft-hand armature 'L'ci n 3 to, hact: contact and c magnet 99, wiper 6U, terminal 70, contact 55 and interrupter 50 to ground. The

Polarized relay wipers of switch T are then stepped to the fourth row of terminals. on wiper reaches terminal 74, the connecting circuit is again shunted, and polarized magnet 400 is again deenergized. The operation of polarized magnet 400 causes the collection of the second deposited coin and the talking circuit of the calling subscriber is again opened. In this position of the switch the circuit is again completed for message re ister 44, said circuit extending from ,groun ed battery through the winding of message register 44, wiper 25, terminal 28., wiper 32, terminal 35, wiper 64, terminal 90, contacts 56 of polarized relay 22 to ground. A record is thus made of the second dc osited coin. Under control of interrupter l, the wipers of switch 'l are moved onto the fifth set of terminals whereupon relay 22 deenergizes. As soon as the third coin is inserted in the coin slot, contacts 411 and 37 are closed, polarized magnet too and relay 22 are again energized and stepping magnet l5 is supplied with current through the loaclr contact and left-hand armature of magnet 99, wiper 60, terminal 98, contacts 55 of relay 22 and interrupter 50 to ground.

The wipers of the switch 'l are thereupon moved to the sixth set oi terminals and the stepping magnet 45 is connected through the wiper 6t) and contact 82 to the slow-interrupter '79. lwo coins have been collected and the third has been deposited in the collection chute and is resting on the contact 411 and finger 403. The wipers of switch T are thus stepped from terminal to terminal under control of slow-interrupter 79 and measure 0d the allotted time for the initial period of conversation.

At the expiration of the initial period of conversation, when wiper 65 reaches terminal t5, the calling side of the connecting circuit is again shunted and polarized magnet 400 is again deenergized thereby causing the collection of the third coin and the opening of the tallring circuit of calling subscriber at contacts all and 37. Message register it is again operated over a circuit traceable irom grounded battery, winding p of message register i wiper 25, terminal 28, wiper 3.2, terminal 35, wiper 6i, terminal 77 and contacts 56 of polarized relay 22, to ground, The wipers of switch I? are moved one step further under control of interrupter ll. into engagement with the eleventh set oi? terminals whereupon polarized relay 22 is deenergized.

Should the subscriber at station A. desire to continue the conversation, it will he necessary to insert another coin in the coin slot. insertion of an additional coin as tell for an additional period of conversation again energizes polarized magnet 4200 and polarized relay 22. Relay 22 in operating completes a iltl its

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circuit for stepping magnet 45, said circuit extendin from grounded battery through the win ing of ste ping magnet 45, lefthand armature and back contact of ma net 99, wiper 60, terminal 84, contacts 55 relay 22 and interrupter 50 to ground. The wipers of switch T are thereupon moved into engagement with the last set of terminals, thereby completing a circuit for release magnet 99 extending from grounded battery, winding of magnet 99, wiper 62 and terminal 7 8 to ground. Magnet 99 in operating releases the wipers of switch T and sad wipers are moved toward normal posltlon, but are stopped at a predetermined position representing a fractional part. of the 1n1t1al eriod of conversation by the arm 51 engaging the pawl 52. It will be assumed that the switch is stopped upon the sixth terminal.

In such case a circuit is closed for stepping magnet 45 extending from grounded battery, winding of magnet 45, back contact and lefthand armature of magnet 99, terminal 82 and interrupter 79 to ground. Under control of interrupter 79, the switch measures off the time allotted for an additional period of conversation. At the expiration of such period or when wiper 65 reaches the terminal 75, the calling end of the connecting circuit is again shunted and polarized magnet 400 denergizes thereby causing the collection of the coin for the fractional part of the conversation and opening the talking "circuit of the calling subscriber at contacts 411 and 37. Message register 44 is again operated to record the record of one fractional part of a conversation or the collection of the fourth coin over the circuit previously traced.

Should the calling subscriber desire to continue the conversation it'will be necessary to insert another coin in the coin slot for each fractional period of conversation. Switch T will thus be repeatedly operated in the manner described until the conversation is completed.

After the conversation is finished and the calling and called subscribed have hung u their receivers, the connecting switch an selector are restored to normal in a well known manner. When selector switch S is restored tonormal, ground will be removed from wiper 36 thereby releasing magnet 66. Magnet 66 in retracting its armature, moves pawl 52 out of the path of arm 51 so that the latter may return to normal position.

Magnet 66 in releasing, completes a circuit for release magnet 99 which in operating, restores the switch, T to normal position. It will be noted that a path is completed for the energization of release magnet 99 as soon as magnet 66 releases, should the subscriber hang up before the completion of the initial or a fractional part of theinitial conversation.

What is claimed is: 1. In a telephone system, subscribers lines,

charging means individual to each of said said certain distance to assess toll for additional periods of conversation.

3. In a telephone system, subscribers lines each having a charging means individual thereto, said charging means comprising a coin collector and a meter, and a charging means controller comprising a single device for causing the collection of a certain number of coins and the registration of said certain number of coins for an initial period of conversation and to cause the collection of another certain number of said coins and the registration of said certain other number of said coins for additional periods of conversation.

4. In a telephone system, subscribers lines each having a charging means individual thereto, said charging means comprising a coin collector and, a charging means controller comprising a single device for causing the collection of coins at one rate for an initial period of conversation and a diflt'erent rate for additional periods of conversation.

5. In a telephone system, subscribers lines each having a charging means individual thereto, said charging means comprising a coin collector arranged to be operated by a plurality of coins, and a coin controlled device for controlling said coin collector arranged to respond to the insertion of a plurality of coins in said coin -collector to cause the collection of said coins at one rate for an initial period of conversation and at a different rate for additional periods of conversation.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 21st day of April A. D., 1920.

CHARLES L. GOODRUM. 

